Shoe cleaner



P. C. HUTTON SHOE CLEANER May 18, 1965 Filed June 2l, 1965 Fig.

Paul C. Huron IN VENTOR.

11A w e United States Patent O 3,183,539 SHOE CLEANER Paul C. Hutton, 6 Old Farm Road, Bellair, Charlottesville, Va. Filed .lune 2l, 1963, Ser. No. 289,663 10 Claims. (Cl. 15-112) The present invention generally relates to shoe cleaners, and is more particularly concerned with an adhesively mounted shoe scraping device.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a shoe cleaner which is uniquely adapted for attachment by commercially available epoxy adhesives to a suitable supporting surface such as for example a concrete slab.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to utilize various materials particularly adapted for an absorption of any shock introduced into the device by the foot of the user coming in contact with the scraper blade.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a shoe cleaner incorporating an enlarged llat base capable of closely conforming to any minor surface irregularities thus insuring an adequate bond being achieved.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a shoe cleaner or scraper which is extremely simple to install, requiring no special tools, regardless of the particular surface to which it is to be attached.

Additionally, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a device which is capable of economical commercial manufacture, the manufactured device being readily adaptable for sale in a kit form.

In achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that the shoe cleaner of the instant invention consists basically of an enlarged base, an elongated scraper blade, and a pair of brushes. The base is to be formed of a suitable material, such as rubber or malleable iron, capable of being conformed to various surface irregularities such as might be present on, for example, a door stoop, the lower face of the base being both fiat and of a relatively great area so as t provide a substantial bonding area enabling the device to effectively resist, without being dislodged, the various stresses to which it will be subjected during use. The scraper blade is to be located centrally on the base and transversely thereof, this scraper blade being, if so desired, both flexible and resilient so as to tend to also absorb any shock introduced by the foot coming in contact therewith, this blade having the brushes mounted on the opposite ends thereof for selective engagement by the opposite sides of a shoe.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the shoe cleaner mounted in position upon a concrete slab;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial exploded perspective view of the various elements comprising the shoe cleaner;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial crossasectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3 3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional View taken substantially on a plane passing along line 4 4 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of shoe cleaner base with a portion thereof broken away for purposes of illustration.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, ref- Mice erence numeral l@ is generally used to designate the shoe cleaner comprising the instant invention. This shoe cleaner ll@ consists basically of an elongated base 12, a transversely extending elongated scraper blade I4, and a pair of brushes 16, the entire unit being mountable on any suitable relatively dat surface such as the concrete slab f8 used for illustration purposes in the drawings.

In the preferred form of the instant invention, the base I2 is to be molded from a suitable relatively hard rubber or rubber-like material capable of effectively absorbing any shock introduced into the device l0 by contact of the foot with the upper or scraping edge Ztl of the scraper blade 14. It is contemplated that thebase 12 be adhesively bonded to the supporting surface :t8 by a suitable commercially available epoxy adhesive 22, preferably of the type having some flexibility inherent therein so as to additionally assist in absorbing any introduced shock. inasmuch as an adhesive is to be used to mount the shot cleaner It of the instant invention, rather than the much more troublesome conventionally used bolt or screws, the lower face 24 of the base 12 is to be both iiat and relatively large so as to present a maximum adhesive area.

With reference to the drawings, it will be noted that the central portion of the base 12 is substantially thicker han the two end portions, the upper face of the base 12 being convex or bowed at this point. Extending transversely across the base 12 through this enlarged central portion is a relatively deep slot 26 which has its bottom spaced upwardly from the bottom face 24 of the base 12, this slot 26 fxedly receiving the scraper blade 14 as shall be gone into presently. With reference particularly to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that a truncated cone-shaped chamber 2S is provided in the lower face 24 with the upper end of this chamber or bore 28 communicating with the slot 26 through the bottom thereof at substantially the midpoint along the length of the slot 26.

The scraper blade lll consists essentially of a fiat plate including a at lower edge 30 engageable with the bottom of the slot 26, the plate or blade I4 being of a height sufficient so as to allow a positioning of the upper longitudinal edge 20 thereof a sufficient distance above the central convex portion of the base I2 so as to enable a proper scraping of a shoe thereon. The lower edge 30 of the scraper blade I4 is provided with a centrally located integral depending projection 32 which, upon a positioning of the blade within the slot 26, extends into the chamber or bore Z8 which is subsequently filled with the epoxy adhesive 22 so as to, upon a hardening of the adhesive 22, provide in effect an enlarged knob preventing the withdrawal of the -scraper blade 14. Additionally, as will be appreciated from FIGURE 3, the sides of the slot 2'6 itself are also coated with the adhesive 22 prior to the insertion of the plate I4, this being done by, for example, flexing the rubber-like base slightly so as to temporarily widen the slot, the scraper blade being inserted therein before the base is released. Inasmuch as the base 12 is to be of rubber or a rubber-like material capable of absorbing a substantial percentage of the shock introduced by the engagement of a foot on the scraping edge 20, the blade 14 can itself be of a rigid unflexible material. Incidentally, in order to increase the bond between the epoxy adhesive and the lower face 24 of the rubber base 12, this face can be first treated with a sulfuric acid (cyclizing) or chlorination process.

The scraper blade 14, in order to provide an elongated scraping edge 2t), includes two integral longitudinal wing portions 34 terminating at their outer ends in vertical extensions or projections 36, these wing portions 34 being of substantially less height than the main portion of the blade I4, the upper edge of the wing portions 34 obviously remaining on the base until the adhesive has set.

E being located in the same plane as and forming an extension of the upper edge Ztl. By, in effect, removing the lower portions of the scraper blade 14 below the wings 34, it will be appreciated that no enlarged exposed areas are presented which might receive either intentional or unintentional blows.

Each of the extending ends of the blade 14 is provided with a brush 16, this brush 16 formed of a suitable wooden block 38 having a plurality of bristles projecting therefrom, the block having slots in both the bottom surface 40 and rear face 42, the rear face slot receiving the vertical projection 36 therein and the lower surface slot receiving the upper edge Ztl therein, these slots being, of course, also coated with the epoxy Vadhesive 22. In so mounting each of the brushes 16, it will be recognized that the bristles extend inwardly in a manner which allows the selective engagement of the opposite edges of a shoe thereagainst, these bristles being orientated in a generally circular or semi-circular arrangement with the uppermost bristles angled upwardly.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that a modified form of base, generally indicated by reference numeral 44, has been illustrated. rl`his base 44 is constructed of a single sheet of relatively malleable metal, such as iron, which can be conveniently conformed to any minor surface irregularity in a supporting surface 18, a suitable epoxy adhesive being used to also attach this base 44. Specifically, the base 44 includes two enlarged flat end portions 46 merging integrally along their inner ends with upwardly and inwardly curved portions 48 which in turn terminate, at spaced points, in depending parallel vertical walls 50 interconnected by an integral bottom 52 spaced slightly above the plane of the at portions 46. These at end portions 46, as will be appreciated, are of a size -so as to form a substantial adhesive area.

The base 44 uses a scraper blade similar to the blade 14 used in conjunction with the base 12, and as such includes an aperture 54 through the bottom 52 so as to enable the extension of the projection 32 therethrough, the bottom 52 and sides 50 forming a slot equivalent to the slot 26 and also receiving a coating of the epoxy adhesive prior to the insertion of the blade.

inasmuch as the base 44 is to be of a relatively malleable metal so as to conform to surface irregularities, the blade used in conjunction therewith is preferably of a slightly flexible and resilient nature capable of absorbing some of the shock introduced into the device by an engagement of a shoe therewith, this blade of course also possessing sufficient rigidity so as to effect a proper scraping of the shoe.

In regard to both of the illustrated forms of bases, it will be appreciated that the raised or enlarged center portion enables the provision of a relatively deep blade slot capable of receiving a substantial portion of the scraper blade thus insuring, in yconjunction with the epoxy adhesive, a rigid attachment of the scraper blade to the base. Further, by gradually sloping or tapering the raised portion downwardly toward the outer edges of the base, the force introduced by the foot coming in contact with the upper edge of the scraper blade, or at least that portion of the force which is not absorbed by the inherent nature of the materials used, is transformed into a substantially horizontal component which is easily resisted by the epoxy adhesive bond between the supporting surface and enlarged .lower face of the base, this lower face necessarily having to be both of a substantial area and closely conformable to the `supporting surface.V In mounting the relatively hard rubber base of FIGURES 1-3, it is contemplated that, after the epoxy adhesive has been applied, the base be properly orientated and relatively heavy Weights be placed thereon causing a slight deformation of the lower face of the base into close conformity with vthe supporting surface, the weights The 4 relatively malleable base of FIGURE 5 is, after the application of the adhesive, stamped or otherwise pressed or deformed into close conformity with the `supporting surface with-weights also being used so as to retain the base during the setting of the adhesive.

From the foregoing, it should now be appreciated that a novel `shoe cleaner :has been defined, the shoe cleaner incorporating -both -a scraper ,blade and side brushes. In addition to the novelty `considered to reside inthe provision of a particular structure which enables the effective use of commercially available epoxy adhesive in the mounting of a shoe cleaner, thus avoiding the more conventional commercial mounting means, it will be` appreciated that the shoe cleaner presents a low silhouette and a generally attractive appearance capable of attractively complementing any home, this shoe cleaner being adaptable for any desired type of finish. As stated supra,'the use of relatively large flat adhesive areas on the shoe cleaner itself is essential in order to effect satisfactory mounting of lnhis shoe cleaner, these large areas lbeing located on both sides of me scraper blade along the path taken by a foot orV shoe moving thereacross. Further, it is considered particularly significant that theshoe scraper of the instant invention utilizedr specific materials capable of absorbing a major portion of the shock introduced into the cleaner `for example, a relatively hard rubber base, a flexible epoxy adhesive, and a flexible and resilient scraper blade, the use of a flexible and resilient scraper blade being particularly important when a malleable metal base is used.

The foregoing is considered -as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modilications and changeswi-ll readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction kand operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. Y

What is claimed as new is follows:

l. A shoe cleaner for adhesive attachment to` a rigid supporting surface, consisting of an enlarged substantially planar base yformed of a relatively hard shock-absorbing lrubber-like material, the major portion of the lower face of said base being closely conformable =to the supporting surface, and a vertically orientated elongated hat scraper Iblade positioned transversely of said base and being rigidly amxed thereto, said blade presenting an elongated straight yupper edge for contact lwith a shoe being directed thereacross, said upper edgek being located a substantial distance above the highest pointfof the base so as to allow for turning of the shoe, thus achieving a full scraping of the bottom thereof, said 'base projecting a substantial distance beyond both sides ofthe blade along the path which would be assumed by the above mentioned shoe being directed across the blade edge.

2. The device of claim l wherein said base includes a central raised portion, said central portion including a transverse slot therein, said scraper blade being fixedly received within said slot and projecting thereabove.

3. The device of claim 2 vincluding a centrally located opening communicating the bottom of the slot with the lower face of the base, said blade having an integral projection on the lower edge thereof extending into said opening.

4.V A shoe cleaner for adhesive attachment to a rigid supporting surface, consisting of an enlarged substantially planar base, the major portion of the lower face of said base being closely conformable to thesupporting surface, and a vertically orientated elongated scraper blade positioned transversely of said base and being rigidly athxed thereto, said bladepresenting an elongated upper edge for contact with a shoe being directed thereacross, said base projecting a substantial distance beyond both sides of the blade along the path which would be assumed by the above mentioned shoe being directed across the blade edge, said base including a central raised portion, said central portion including a transverse slot thereacross, said scraper blade being xedly received within said slot and projecting thereabove, and a centrally located opening communicating the bottom of the slot with the lower face of the base, said blade having an integral projection on the lower edge thereof extending into said opening.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said blade is formed of a material possessing sufficient rigidity so as to effect the desired scraping while at the same time being both exible and resilient so as to tend to absorb the shock of the shoe coming in contact therewith.

6. The device of claim 4 including a pair of integral vertical extensions on the blade, one at each end of the elongated upper edge, and a brush means xedly secured to each extension and projecting inwardly.

7. A shoe cleaner for adhesive attachment to a rigid supporting surface, comprising a molded base of rubberlike material and a rigid at scraper blade having a straight upper edge, said base being elongated and having a flat lower face engageable against said supporting surface, said base having a raised central portion extending transversely thereacross between the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, said raised central portion tapering gradually toward the opposite ends of said base, and an elongated slot in said raised central portion transverse of the base, said scraper blade being lixedly received within said slot and projecting above the central portion of the base a substantial distance so as to locate the upper edge at a height above the highest point of the base suiiicient so as to allow for a complete scraping of the bottom of a shoe.

8. A shoe cleaner for adhesive attachment to a rigid supporting surface, comprising a molded rubber base and a rigid scraper blade, said base being elongated and having a tlat lower face engageable against said supporting surface, said base having a raised central portion extending transversely across between the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, said central portion tapering gradually toward the opposite ends of said base, and an elongated slot through said raised central portion transverse of the base, said scraper blade being xedly received within said slot so as to project above the central portion of the base, and an enlarged bore extending inwardly from the lower face of the base into communication with the slot, said blade including an integral depending projection on said blade receivable within said bore.

9. A shoe cleaner for adhesive attachment to a rigid supporting surface, comprising an elongated formed plate having a pair of spaced at end portions orientated in the same plane, each end portion integral at its inner edge with an upwardly and inwardly curved portion, these curved portions terminating in spaced inner edges, parallel depending walls integral with the curved portion inner edges, and a bottom interconnecting the lower edges of said walls, said bottom being positioned above the plane of the iiat end portions, said walls and bottom forming a slot, an elongated scraper blade fixed within said slot and projecting thereabove an opening through the bottom of the slot, and an integral projection on the lower edge of the blade projecting through said opening.

l0. A shoe cleaner for adhesive attachment to a rigid supporting surface comprising a base formed from a single elongated generally rectangular sheet of metal, said base including a raised portion transversely across the center of the elongated dimension of the sheet, the end portions of the sheet on opposite sides of the raised portion being flat with coplanar lower surfaces, said at end portions constituting a major portion of the length of the base, and a scraper blade ixed to the raised portion and projecting thereabove, said scraper blade extending transversely relative to the sheet, said raised center portion consisting of a generally convex portion the sides of which gradually taper into the opposite end sections, whereby the force introduced at the scraper blade is transformed into a substantially horizontal component. l

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 613,133 10/98 Fobare 15-112 X 665,370 1/01 Parker l15--216 719,894 2/03 Smith 15--112 923,997 6/09 Prouty 15-237 2,050,136 8/36 Tucker et al. 40-152.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 6,584 3/14 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHOE CLEANER FOR ADHESIVE ATTACHMENT TO A RIGID SUPPORTING SURFACE, CONSISTING OF AN ENLARGED SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR BASE FORMED OF A RELATIVELY HARD SHOCK-ABSORBING RUBBER-LIKE MATERIAL, THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE LOWER FACE OF SAID BASE BEING CLOSELY CONFORMABLE TO THE SUPPORTING SURFACE, AND A VERTICALLY ORIENTATED ELONGATED FLAT SCRAPER BLADE POSITIONED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BASE AND BEING RIGIDLY AFFIX THERETO, SAID BLADE PRESENTING AN ELONGATED STRAIGHT UPPER EDGE FOR CONTACT WITH A SHOE BEING DIRECTED THEREACROSS, SAID UPPER EDGE BEING LOCATED A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ABOVE THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE BASE SO AS TO ALLOW FOR TURNING OF THE SHOE, THUS ACHIEVING A FULL SCRAPING OF THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID BASE PROJECTING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BEYOND BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADES ALONG THE PATH WHICH WOULD BE ASSUMED BY THE ABOVE MENTIONED SHOE BEING DIRECTED ACROSS THE BLADE EDGE. 